Variable flow and reversible hydraulic pump



Dec. 22, 1964 J. F. GARNER 3,162,137

VARIABLE mow AND REVERSIBLE HYDRAULIC PUMP Filed Dec. 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (724/5: fiaza zz, zy

Dec. 22, 1964 J. F. GARNER 3,162,137

VARIABLE FLOW AND REVERSIBLE HYDRAULIC PUMP Filed Dec. 8, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,162,137 VARIABLE FLOW AND REVERSIBLE HYDRAULIC PUMP James F. Carrier, Elsinore, Calif. (666 Coronado Ave, Long Beach 14, Calif.) Filed Dec. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 778,774 7 Claims. (Cl. 103-120) This invention relates to a variable flow and reversible hydraulic pump in which the vanes of the pump are pressed outwardly by fluid pressure against a rotatable ring, and also where these vanes move through arcuate space of both the intake and exhaust sides of the'pump whereby an appreciable amount of friction is eliminated.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel hydraulic pump of the character stated, in which the flow from the pump can be varied by means of a shiftable yoke which may be movable through the medium of hydraulically actuated pistons.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel hydraulic pump in which the shiftable yoke carries a rotatable ring against which the vanes are pressed while the pump is operating. This shiftable yoke also is accurately guided within the pump throughout its movement.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel hydraulic pump which will effectively rotate in either direction, that is, it can be easily reversed by merely reversing'the intake and outlet pipes out of the pump, or by means of the shift yoke.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of my pump with one of the complementary halves removed.

FIGURE 2 is an end view of my pump.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of my pump.

FIGURE 4 is a side view of one of the complementary housing halves of the pump. 7

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line .5-5 of FIGURE 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates the outer housing which is formedby two complementary halves 2 and 3. The halves 2 and 3 are suitably bolted together in a manner which is usual and well known in the art. The housing halves 2 and 3 are substantially identical and as far as the identical structures are concerned only one half will be described in detail. Therefore, the half 2 will be described as follows:

Two arcuate recesses or cavities 4 and 5 are formed in the half 2, and these cavities are separated by flat faces 6 and 7, as shown in FIGURE 4. Ring-shaped Walls 8 and 9 define the inner wall-of the cavities 4 and 5 respectively, and these walls also connect the flat faces 6 and 7. The inner faces of the parts 6, 7, 8 and 9 all he in a common plane and provide a bearing surface over which the vanes pass, as will be subsequently described. Each of the housing halves 2 and 3 also include a half cylinder 10 and 11, and these cylinders are aligned with each other and are also positioned adjacent the flat faces 6 and 7, respectively. When the housing halves 2 and 3 are bolted together the half cylinders 10 and 11 form a complete cylinder with the matching member, thus providing an operating means for the shiftable yoke, which will be subsequently described. A duct 12 extends into the cavity 4 and a similar duct 13 extends into the cavity 5. Itis evident that these ducts may be either intakes or exhausts, depending upon the desired direction of rotation ofthe pump, or the position of the shift yoke.

A yoke 14 is mounted within the housing 1 and this yoke is provided with a piston 15 on one side thereof which fits into the cylinder 10, and a second piston 16 on the other side thereof which fits in the cylinder. 11. By applying pressure in either of the cylinders 10 or 11 the 'yoke 14 may be shifted to the left or right, as viewed in FIGURE 1. Bearing plates 17 and 18 are mounted in the housing 1 and bear against opposite sides of the yoke 14, as shown in FIGURE 1; thus accurately guiding the yoke in its lateral shifting movement and also permitting the yoke to be accurately positioned with relation to the pumping vanes. A ring 19 is journaled within the yoke 14 and this ring may shift or rotate Within the yoke, as might be required by the frictional engagement of the rotating vanes. A rotor 21) is fixedly mounted on or may be integral with the shaft 21 which projects laterally from the rotor. The shaft 21 is journaled in suitable bearings '22 and 23 which are suitably mounted in the housing'halves 2 and 3, respectively. Compression springs 24 around the shaft 21 serve the purpose of holding the bearings 22 and .23 in proper position within their respective mountings. The rotor 20 is provided with a plurality of radially extending vanes 25, the outer edges of which .bear against the ring 19. The vanes 25 are slidably mounted in appropriate radial slots 26 in the rotor 20, thus permitting the vanes to engage the ring 19 and create a pumping action when the rotor 20 is driven. All of this is as shown and described in my Patent No. 2,685,255. Adjustment of the yoke '14 relative to the rotor 20 will vary the output of the pump, as will be evident from the construction previously described.

The vanes 25 are pressed outwardly under hydraulic pressure in the following manner: Each of the ringshaped walls '8 and 9 are formed with an annular groove 27, which grooves face inwardly towards the rotor 20. Pressure in either of the cavities 4 or 5 will be transmitted to either groove 27 through a fluid conduit 28, thus exerting pressure on the bottom edge of the vanes 25 and pressing these vanes outwardly to contact the ring 19. A check valve 29 in the fluid passage '28 will trap fluid under pressure in the grooves 27, thus exerting a constant pres- I sure against the vanes to press these outwardly. A suitable O-ring packing 30 may be provided on the inner face of the housing half 2 to prevent leakage between the housing halves, particularly when there is pressure within the pump.

In operation, the shaft 21 is rotated from a suitable source of power, which rotation is also transmitted to the rotor 20. The vanes 25 move over the inner face of the ring 19 and thus sweep the area within the cavities 4 and 5 during a portion of their rotation. The actual pumping action occurs as the vanes 25 move across the fiat faces 6 and 7. While the vanes are traversing the arcuate cavities 4 and 5 there is little or no restriction or restraint on the vanes and, as a result, there is less frictional loss and the pump will operate with less power applied to the shaft 21. This frictional elimination during the travel of the vanes 25 therethrough is quite material and the actual pump action is adequate by the sweep of the vanes over the flat faces 6 and 7. As the vanes sweep these flat faces they pick up a quantity of fluid from one of the cavities 4 or 5 and transmit it to the other; the quantity of fluid being determined by the space defined by adjacent vanes,

and also the outer face of the rotor 20 and the inner face of the ring 19. The capacity of this pumping space can be varied by shifting the yoke 14 through the medium of the pistons 15 and 16. It is also evident that if desired to make a pump which is not variable in capacity, then the yoke 14 may be stationary, in which event the pistons 15 and 16 and the cylinders 10 and 11 can be eliminated.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a variable displacement pump, the combination of: a shaft; a radially slotted rotor rigidly aflixed to said shaft; a plurality of rectangular blades slidably supported in said slots; a rigid ring of greater internal diameter than that of said rotor and Said-blades which said ring embraces; a yoke that rotatably supports said ring; two diametrically opposed pistons affixed to said yoke and extending outwardly therefrom in opposite directions; first and second cylinders in which said pistons are slidably and sealingly disposed; first and second fluid-carrying sleeves; a hollow housing defined by two parallel side plates having a flange extending between the outer edges thereof through which flange said cylinders and'said first and second sleeves extend with said sleeves being disposed on opposite sides of said second cylinder; said side walls having transversely aligned openings formed therein through which said shaft extends to support said rotor and blades within said housing, which side walls have inwardly projecting portions that extend between said cylinders and slidably engage opposite sides of said rotor blades, ring and yoke to divide the interior of said housing into first and second compartments that are in communication with said first and second sleeves respectively; two independent fluid passage means communicating with said first and second compartments and two oppositely disposed circular grooves formed on said inwardly projecting portions of said side walls, which circular grooves are at all times in communication with said slots; two spring-loaded check valves communicating with said fluid passage means, said check valves being so loaded as to admit fluid under pressure from said first and second compartments into said circular grooves and said slots to move said blades outwardly into contact with said ring, but said check valves preventing escape of said fluid under pressure from said circular grooves and said slots to said first and second compartments; and means to move said pistons, said yoke and said ring relative to said rotor and blades, with said shaft when driven in a direction to rotate said blades passing said first sleeve toward said second sleeve causing positive displacement of fluid admitted into said first compartment through said first sleeve to said second compartment so long as the volume of said spaces adjacent said second piston is greater than that of said spaces adjacent said first piston, but with the direction of fluid flow being reversed to efiect positive fluid displacement from said second compartment to said first compartment when the volume of said spaces adjacent said first piston is greater than that of said spaces adjacent said second piston.

2. In a variable displacement pump the combination of: a shaft; a cylindrical rotor rigidly aflixed to said shaft; a plurality of rectangular rigid blades slidably mounted in a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially disposed slots formed in said rotor that extend inwardly from the periphery thereof; a rigid yoke having an internal diameter greater than that of said rotor which said yoke surrounds and which is engageable by the outer ends of said blades to define a succession of arcuate spaces therebetween; bearing plates on which said yoke is slidably mounted and two diametrically opposed pistons which extend outwardly from said rigid yoke; first and second cylinders in which said first and second pistons are slidably and sealingly mounted; first and second fluidcarrying sleeves; a hollow cylindrical housing comprising two parallel, laterally spaced side walls having a ringshaped flange extending between the outer circumferential edges thereof, said side walls being formed with centrally disposed openings through which said shaft extends when said rotor is positioned within said housing, which flange supports said first and second cylinders, said first and second cylinders'being in diametric alignment, both of said side walls having inwardly projecting portions that extend between said first and second cylinders and are at all times slidably engaged by opposite side surfaces of said rotor, blades, and yoke, with said housing being internally divided by said engagement into a first compartment and a second compartment, said first and second compartments communicating with said first and second sleeves respectively; fluid passage means capable of supplying fluid under pressure from said compartments to the in nor end portions of said slots to force and maintain said blades into pressure contact with said yoke to define said spaces; and pressure means to supply fluid to and discharge fiuid from the outwardly disposed portions of said cylinders to move said yoke on the bearing plates relative to said rotor and blades, said shaft when driven in a direction to rotate said blades passing said first sleeve toward said second sleeve causing positive displacement of fluid admitted into said first compartment through said first sleeve to said second compartment so long as the volume of said spaces adjacent said second piston is greater than that of said spaces adjacent said first piston, but with the direction of fluid flow being reversed to effect positive fluid displacement from said second compartment to said first compartment to discharge therefrom when the volume of said spaces adjacent said first piston is greater than that of said spaces adjacent said second piston.

3. A variable displacement pump as defined in claim 2 wherein said rotor, blades, yoke and bearing plates are of substantially the same width, said inwardly projecting portion of each of said side walls comprises a centrally disposed boss having two arms extending in opposite directions therefrom to said portions of said flange in which said cylinders are positioned, with said openings in said side walls being bores of substantially greater transverse cross section than that of said shaft which extends therethrough, and two cylindrical bearings are disposed in said bores in said bosses on opposite sides of said rotor to rotata-bly support said shaft.

4. A variable displacement pump as defined in claim 3 including the further elements of two compressed helical springs that encircle portions of said shaft adjacent said bearings, two fluid-sealing collars which sealingly engage said shaft outwardly from said bearing, with each of said springs having one end thereof abutting against one of said bearings and the opposite end thereof bearing against one of said collars, which springs, collars and bearings cooperatively maintain said rotor and blades in a centered position Within said housing, and holding means that maintain said collars in fixed transverse position relative to said housing when subjected to compression by said springs.

5. A variable displacement pump as defined in claim 4 wherein said housing comprises two interlocking halves that may be disposed in fluid-sealing, abutting contact and means is provided to removably maintain said halves in said fluid-sealing, interlocking abutment to define said housing.

6. A variable displacement pump as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said housing halves includes one of said walls and a portion of said flange, said flange portions have diametrically aligned first and second semi-cylindrical grooves formed therein which receive said cylinders when said flange portions are in abutment, said housing halves have two oppositely disposed bearing plates that project therefrom and define guide surfaces which are parallel to the diametrically disposed axis with which said cylinders are longitudinally aligned, two pressure plates that are at all times in parallel sliding contact with said bearing plates, and adjustment means are movably mounted on said flange portions which support said bearing plates for movement normal to said axis to adjust said bearing plates as required and maintain said bearing plates in said relationship with said housing that said pistons are longitudinally aligned relative to said cylinders.

7. In a variable displacement pump, the combination of: a shaft; a cylindrical rotor rigidly affixed to said shaft; a plurality of rectangular rigid blades slida-bly mounted in a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially disposed slots that extend inwardly from the periphery of said rotor; a rigid ring having an internal diameter greater than that of said rotor which said ring surrounds and which is engageable by the outwardly disposed ends of said blades to define a succession of arcuate spaces therebetween; a bearing plate, a circular yoke in which said ring is rotatably mounted and two diametrically opposed pistons that extend outwardly from said circular yoke; first and second cylinders in which said first and second pistons are slidably and sealingly mounted; first and sec ond fluid-carrying sleeves; a hollow cylindrical housing comprising two parallel, laterally spaced side walls and a ring-shaped flange extending between the outer circumferential edges of said side walls, said side walls being formed with centrally disposed openings through which said shaft extends when said rotor is positioned inside said housing, which flange sealingly supports said first and second cylinders in diametric relationship, said first and second sleeves are disposed on opposite sides of said second cylinder, with said side walls having inwardly projecting portions that extend between said first and second cylinders and are at all times slidably engaged by side surfaces of said rotor, blades, ring and circular yoke, and as a result of said engagement said housing is intern-ally divided into a first compartment communicating with said first sleeve and a second compartment communicating with said second sleeve; two independent fiuid passage means communicating with said first and second compartments and two oppositely disposed circular grooves formed on said inwardly projecting portions of said side walls, which circular grooves are at all times in communication with said slots; two spring-loaded check valves communicating with said fluid passage means, said check valves being so loaded as to'adrnit fluid under pressure from said first and second compartments into said circuiar grooves and said slots to move said blades outwardly into contact with said ring, but said check valves preventing escape of said fluid under pressure from said circular grooves and said slots to said first and second compartments; and pressure means to supply fluid to and discharge fluid from said cylinders to move said circular yoke and ring relative to said rotor and blades, with said shaft when driven in a direction to rotate said blades passing said first sleeve to ward said second sleeve causing positive displacement of fluid admitted into said first compartment through said first sleeve to said second compartment so long as the volume of said spaces adjacent said second piston is greater than that of said spaces adjacent said first piston, but with the direction of fluid flow being reversed to effect positive fluid displacement from said second compartment to said first compartment when the volume of said spaces adjacent said first piston is greater than that of said spaces adjacent said second piston.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,338,265 4/20 Townsend 103-120 1,943,929 1/34 Rayburn 103-120 2,311,162 2/43 Du Bois 103-136 2,433,360 12/47 Haight 103-126 2,451,666 10/48 Delancey 103-120 2,549,714 4/51 Shannon 103-120 2,612,114 9/52 Ernst 103-120 2,669,189 2/54 De Lancey et a1 103-136 2,678,607 5 54 Hoflferd et al 103-1 20 2,685,255 8/54 Carner 103-120 2,764,941 10/56 Miller et al 103-120 2,782,724 2/57 Humphreys 103-120 2,821,928 2/58 Wagner 103-120 2,823,614 2/58 Lapsley 103-120 2,878,755 3/59 OConnor et a1. 103-120 JOSEPH H. BRANSON, 1a., Primary Examiner. LAURENCE V. EFNER, Examiner. 

1. IN A VARIABLE DISPLACEMENT PUMP, THE COMBINATION OF: A SHAFT; A RADIALLY SLOTTED ROTOR RIGIDLY AFFIXED TO SAID SHAFT; A PLURALITY OF RECTANGULAR BLADES SLIDABLY SUPPORTED IN SAID SLOTS; A RIGID RING OF GREATER INTERNAL DIAMETER THAN THAT OF SAID ROTOR AND SAID BLADES WHICH SAID RING EMBRACES; A YOKE THAT ROTATABLY SUPPORTS SAID RING; TWO DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED PISTONS AFFIXED TO SAID YOKE AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS; FIRST AND SECOND CYLINDERS IN WHICH SAID PISTONS ARE SLIDABLY AND SEALINGLY DISPOSED; FIRST AND SECOND FLUID-CARRYING SLEEVES; A HOLLOW HOUSING DEFINED BY TWO PARALLEL SIDE PLATES HAVING A FLANGE EXTENDING BETWEEN THE OUTER EDGES THEREOF THROUGH WHICH FLANGE SAID CYLINDERS AND SAID FIRST AND SECOND SLEEVES EXTEND WITH SAID SLEEVES BEING DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SECOND CYLINDER; SAID SIDE WALLS HAVING TRANSVERSELY ALIGNED OPENINGS FORMED THEREIN THROUGH WHICH SAID SHAFT EXTENDS TO SUPPORT SAID ROTOR AND BLADES WITHIN SAID HOUSING, WHICH SIDE WALLS HAVE INWARDLY PROJECTING PORTIONS THAT EXTEND BETWEEN SAID CYLINDERS AND SLIDABLY ENGAGE OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID ROTOR BLADES, RING AND YOKE TO DIVIDE THE INTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING INTO FIRST AND SECOND COMPARTMENTS THAT ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID FIRST AND SECOND SLEEVES RESPECTIVELY; TWO INDEPENDENT FLUID PASSAGE MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID FIRST AND SECOND COMPARTMENTS AND TWO OPPOSITELY DISPOSED CIRCULAR GROOVES FORMED ON SAID INWARDLY PROJECTING PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE WALLS, WHICH CIRCULAR GROOVES ARE AT ALL TIMES IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID SLOTS; TWO SPRING-LOADED CHECK VALVES COMMUNICATING WITH SAID FLUID PASSAGE MEANS, SAID CHECK VALVES BEING SO LOADED AS TO ADMIT FLUID UNDER PRESSURE FROM SAID FIRST AND SECOND COMPARTMENTS INTO SAID CIRCULAR GROOVES AND SAID SLOTS TO MOVE SAID BLADES OUTWARDLY INTO CONTACT WITH SAID RING, BUT SAID CHECK VALVES PREVENTING ESCAPE OF SAID FLUID UNDER PRESSURE FROM SAID CIRCULAR GROOVES AND SAID SLOTS TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND COMPARTMENTS; AND MEANS TO MOVE SAID PISTONS, SAID YOKE AND SAID RING RELATIVE TO SAID ROTOR AND BLADES, WITH SAID SHAFT WHEN DRIVEN IN A DIRECTION TO ROTATE SAID BLADES PASSING SAID FIRST SLEEVE TOWARD SAID SECOND SLEEVE CAUSING POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT OF FLUID ADMITTED INTO SAID FIRST COMPARTMENT THROUGH SAID FIRST SLEEVE TO SAID SECOND COMPARTMENT SO LONG AS THE VOLUME OF SAID SPACES ADJACENT SAID SECOND PISTON IS GREATER THAN THAT OF SAID SPACES ADJACENT SAID FIRST PISTON, BUT WITH THE DIRECTION OF FLUID FLOW BEING REVERSED TO EFFECT POSITIVE FLUID DISPLACEMENT FROM SAID SECOND COMPARTMENT TO SAID FIRST COMPARTMENT WHEN THE VOLUME OF SAID SPACES ADJACENT SAID FIRST PISTON IS GREATER THAN THAT OF SAID SPACES ADJACENT SAID SECOND PISTON. 